Photos: Toxic air makes matters worse during Delhi’s third Covid-19 wave

Morning walkers out on a smoggy day at Mayur Vihar in New Delhi on November 8. Delhi has been reporting nearly 7,000 new cases of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in recent days, and 13% of this increase has been estimated to be due to air pollution, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) said on November 7. (Amal KS / HT Photo)

People flouting social distancing norms while shopping at a roadside market in Inderlok, New Delhi on November 5. The IMA’s statement came on day the number of active cases or those with current Covid-19 infections crossed the 40,000 mark for the first time in the city. (Biplov Bhuyan / HT PHOTO)

Traffic police personnel are tested for coronavirus infection in Karol Bagh, New Delhi on November 6. As per data shared by the Union Health Ministry on November 8, Delhi is leading the list of 10 states that are contributing 77% of the new Covid-19 cases daily. The Delhi high court had last week said Delhi was on its way to become the “corona capital of the country.” (Raj K Raj / HT Photo)

A police volunteer hands out Covid-19 test results in New Delhi on November 6. Meanwhile, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said while speaking to the media on November 7 that the national capital had hit the peak of its third wave of Covid-19 and the number of cases suggests it has been the worst so far. He added that “cases will come down soon.” (Manish Swarup / AP)

Workers bide time outside a shuttered firecracker shop after the Delhi government banned their sale ahead of Diwali in New Delhi on November 8. Jain also called out people’s laxity in adhering to Covid-19 safe behaviour and urged them to treat the mask as the only medicine till a vaccine is available. (Vipin Kumar / HT Photo)

Pedestrians and vehicular traffic near Akshardham Temple on a hazy evening in the capital on November 7. Over the last 10 days, the national capital region has seen a sharp spike in air pollution levels. According to the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB), Delhi’s overall air quality index (AQI) remained in the “severe” category recorded at 426 on November 8. (Sanjeev Verma / HT Photo)

Lung specialist Davinder Kundra checks an x-ray of a patient at his Breathe Better clinic in New Delhi on November 5. Poor air quality may result in the aggravation of asthma, COPD, high BP and even cardiovascular diseases. Merely walking could result in health complications due to the high concentration of particulate matter (PM) 2.5 in Delhi’s air. (Prakash Singh / AFP)

Patients recuperate at the a Covid-19 Care Centre in New Delhi on November 7. Health minister Satyendar Jain attributed the increase in the capital’s number of cases to aggressive testing and contact-tracing. The government has increased the number of beds for Covid-19 patients in hospitals in Delhi, but there is no plan to rope in hotels and banquet halls, Jain said. (PTI)

A volunteer takes part in a Covid-19 awareness programme at Connaught Place as coronavirus cases rise across the national capital in New Delhi on November 6. 438,529 people have contracted Covid-19 in Delhi according to the health bulletin on November 9. 6,989 people have succumbed to the disease so far. (Manvender Vashisht / PTI )